Arduino-based Rocket Attitude Control System

We built a cold-gas pneumatic attitude control system over the summer break and used an Arduino for running the control code. Switching to the Arduino was really a breath of fresh air, and it really improved the speed at which we could try new things. Full writeup here: Rapid-Prototyping Attitude Control System

Nice drawing. I will check out the site later.

Didn't I read that the WWII German V2 rocket used pneumatic control for their flight controls? We sure have come a long way? ;D

Lefty

On a related note - these guys:

http://130.94.182.150/

...built these items a while back:

http://130.94.182.150/rcrock.htm
http://130.94.182.150/eyerock.htm
http://130.94.182.150/guidance.htm

I'm sure one could fit an Arduino control system in there somewhere...

:smiley:

Which CAD software you using if you don't mind me asking?

Wish things like Inventor or SW were affordable for a private person :cry:

I hope you have the correct licenses and permissions to build that thing! last I heard guided missiles are covered by various international treaties :slight_smile:

awesome project though.

edit: Just thought id add. Inventor can be downloaded for free so long as you are a student.

I have a "legal" copy of Inventor 5 that works on my laptop, not sure if the higher versions will work...haven't actually looked at the specs mind you :-?

But I didn't know Inventor also had a free version...very very interesting and promising :smiley:

I used SolidWorks for all the modeling, primarily because it's easy to make a decent model quickly with it. Also, we built this as a testing and prototyping platform--not to be used on an actual rocket (though with a little more time and cash we could definitely make it small enough to be launched). :slight_smile: